Ocean Surface Topography Mission (OSTM) /Jason-2: Ancillary Files (NODC Accession 0044982)

This accession contains the data descriptions for the OSTM/Jason-2 Ancillary data files, which is served through the NOAA/NESDIS Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System (CLASS): http://www.class.noaa.gov

OSTM/Jason-2 is a follow-on mission to Jason-1, which takes over and continues the TOPEX/Poseidon and Jason-1 missions. OSTM/Jason-2 involves Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), NASA and 2 new partners: the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) and NOAA in order to 1) ensure continuity of high quality measurements for ocean science, and 2) provide operational products for assimilation and forecasting applications. OSTM/Jason-2 was launched on 20 June 2008 and reached its nominal repetitive orbit on 4 July 2008. The start of cycle 1 occurred on 12 July 2008.

These Ancillary data files are used to generate Level-2 products. They include both static tabular data files and dynamic files which change/grow over time. They are mission specific files used in the production of Level-2 products. All members of the Ancillary data family (J2-ANC) were made unrestricted on 15 December, 2008.

Other data/products associated with OSTM/Jason-2 are also provided through CLASS. They are: Level-2 Geophysical Data Records (GDRs), auxiliary data files used to generate Level-2 products, quality reports from the near real-time altimetry validation system (NRTAVS), orbit information of JASON-2 satellite and telemetry data. The descriptions of these data products can also be accessed in other accessions at NODC.